High Commissioner of Kenya visits TWU

Kenya High Commissioner Simon Nabukwesi stands beside TWU’s President, Dr. Jonathan Raymond. The High Commission toured the University during a visit to the west coast.

TWU recently had the pleasure of hosting the High Commissioner of Kenya, Simon Nabukwesi, and his entourage during the group’s visit to the West Coast. The purpose of the morning appointment was to investigate potential partnerships between TWU and Kenyan educational institutions in the areas of leadership development, teacher training and enrollment opportunities for students from Kenya.

Members of the delegation included George Kinyua, First Secretary, and Imbenzi George, Honorary Consul, who is also a graduate of TWU’s Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) program.

The tour began with a visit over coffee with TWU President Dr. Jonathan Raymond who shared with the High Commission the vision for the university. The group then, led by Paul Weme TWU’s Vice President Strategic Advancement, toured the campus stopping at the Reimer Student Centre, the Norma Marion Alloway Library, the Neufeld Science Centre and then finally on to the School of Nursing. Education is of keen interest to Nabukwesi who is a former geography instructor and principal of an all-boys school in Kenya.

Dean of the School of Nursing, Landa Terblanche and Associate Professor Heather Meyerhoff introduced the High Commission to the nursing program laboratory and shared stories of TWU’s work in both Zambia and Kenya. TWU’s nursing program is the only faith-based program in Canada and as such it offers opportunities for students to use their nursing skills abroad helping out in HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics, ministering to severely sick or injured children, and looking after and encouraging widows. Nabukwesi heard from two nursing students who shared their reasons for enrolling in the TWU nursing program, due largely in part to TWU’s reputation for preparing students for careers in international nursing.

Nabukwesi, after meeting and chatting with the nurses shared that he would like to help pave the way for TWU’s School of Nursing to connect with the minister of medical services in Kenya, with the aim of sharing knowledge.

When asked what his impression of TWU was Nabukwesi responded enthusiastically saying, “I am impressed. Everything here is organized and well maintained, and the programs that are offered are very relevant and timely.”

“This was a great visit for both TWU and the Kenya High Commission,” says Weme. “We are very positive about potential partnerships. We have discussed the possibility of teacher exchange visits and the placement of interns from the Laurentian Leadership Centre with the Kenya High Commission as one such collaboration. There are some exciting things to continue discussing.”

The High Commissioner echoed this interest by saying, “It would be very nice for us to partner together.”

The purpose of the Kenya High Commission which resides in Ottawa and was originally established in 1978, is mandated “to promote, project and protect the image and the interests of Kenya and Kenyans in Canada. This is in addition to strengthening political, cultural and socio-economic relations between the two countries.”